Holder for neon tubes and the like



Sept. 15, 1931. J. PALMER HOLDER FOR NEON TUBES AND THE LIKE Filed July 3l.' 1929 INVENTOR. JOHN 'PA LME/Q. WQMQu/QQN,

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITI-:D STATES PATEun OFFICE JOHN PALMER. F BAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA HOLDER. FOB NEON TUBES AND THE LIKE Application led July 31, 1929. v Serial No. 382,508.

purposes, it is the general practice to support the tubes of the sign by various conventional methods and generally somesort of a support is used and the tube wired thereto in any suitable manner.

This method of supporting neon tubes in signs and displays is, at best, only a makeshift, as each sign is a new problem for the mechanic and he must cut and fit .the supports and then wire the tubes securely within the ends ofthe supports. These wires present an unsightly appearance and, in the smaller window displays, can be plainly seen when the display is illumined.

Itis the primary object of my invention to provide aneon tube holder or bracket which is transparent and which Ais neat in design and appearance and does notmar the attractiveness of the display when in place on the tube thereof.

Another object of the invention is-the provision of a clamp, or holder, of the class indicated that is of sectional construction, the

sections of which are held in place by a clampmember adapted for adjustment longitudinally relative to each other for the accommodation of tubes of varying sizes.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a clamp-member that may be molded in two matched sections from glass, or other suitable transparent material, 'the sections being duplicates and adapted to b'e formed in the same mold.

Additional to the foregoing objects is that 4 of providing a simple, inexpensive and positive clamp, or holder, that may be easily and quickly adjusted to any frame and that will hold the tube or'tubes iniixed relation to, the frame of the sign or display.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be appa-rent with reference to the subjoined specification and the accompanyin one sheet of drawings in which 1 is a front elevation of a small 5 T`display sign suitable for show windows and the like and showing my improved clamps, or holders, in use;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the assembled clamp, or holder, as applied to a neon tube;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the clamp, or holder, as applied to a tube,

showing the attaching-bracket encircling the shank thereof,

portions being broken away for clearness oi' illustration Figure 4 is a plan detail of the clamp sectiois with the attaching bracket removed; an

Figure 5 is an. enlarged transverse section of the clamp member, showing the sectional character thereof, the section being indicated by the line 5-5 in Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, the numeral 10, in a general way, designates the holder, which specilically consists of two matched semi-circular tubular sections 11 and 12 having arcuate tube embracing sections 13 and 14 adapted to encircle a neon or like tube, said sections being preferably molded from glass with the outer edges 15 and 1G of the sections 13 and 14 Hai-ed outwardly so that the. may the more easily be slipped 'over the tu e surface.

vthe clamp to contract about the matched half tubular sections 11 and 12 of the holder, the clamping member 17 being movable along the shank of the holder` to any desired point to adjust itto varying sizes of display casings.

The attaching plate 19 is provided with -a `bolt opening 24 through which a bolt, or screw, 25 is inserted to'securely clamp the IND clamp-member in place upon the panel 26 of a display sign 27, the clamp 17, of course, being placed inside the casing panel 26, With the holder sections 13 and 14 projecting through openings formed therein, as shown in Figure l, so that the entire clamp-member and a portion of the holder are completely hidden from View.

ln general practice, a strip of adhesive tape 28, Figures 2, 3 and 5, is generally Wrapped about the tube so that the member 18 of the clamp will not damage the holder and to also provide a cushioning means that, 1n a measure, absorbs such shocks as may be transmitted to the. frame 27 and clamp-member 17.

lt will be observed from the foregoing description that a transparent holder constructed in. accordance With my invention may be adjusted as to length by moving the clamp 17 in either direction relative thereto, or the arcuate sections 13 and 14 encircling the neon tube section 29 may be varied by sliding one section 11 longitudinally relative to the section'12, thereby reducing the encircling area thereof by rendering these arcs slightly eccentric to each other.

1t may also benoted in this connection that, after the clamp has been properly adjusted, Jhe remaining sections of the holder extending beyond the clamp 17 may be scored for any desired length and broken ofi'.

l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

A support for neon tubes comprising half tubular matching sections, said sections having Shanks and forked neon tube embracing elements, said matching sections consisting of molded glass, clamp-means slidable on said Shanks and adapted to be drawn tightly thereabout when adjusted, means carried by said clamp means for drawing the same together, and means on said clamp for attaching said holder'to any suitable object.

ln testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature this 3rd day of July, 1929.

JOHN PALMER. 

